# std::ostrstream::str

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< cpp‎ | io‎ | ostrstream

char* str(); |  | (deprecated in C++98) (removed in C++26)

Returns the pointer to the beginning of the buffer, after freezing it. Effectively calls rdbuf()->str().

### Parameters

(none)

### Return value

Pointer to the beginning of the buffer in the associated std::strstreambuf or a null pointer if no buffer is available.

### Notes

Before a call to `str()` that uses the result as a C-string, the stream buffer must be null-terminated. Regular output such as with stream << 1.2 does not store a null terminator, it must be appended explicitly, typically with the manipulator std::ends.

After a call to `str()`, dynamic streams become frozen. A call to `freeze(false)` is required before exiting the scope in which this ostrstream object was created. otherwise the destructor will leak memory. Also, additional output to a frozen stream may be truncated once it reaches the end of the allocated buffer, which may leave the buffer not null-terminated.

### Example

Run this code

    #include <iostream>
    #include <strstream>

    int main()
    {
        std::ostrstream dyn; // dynamically-allocated output buffer
        dyn << "Test: " << 1.23; // not adding std::ends to demonstrate append behavior
        std::cout << "The output stream holds \"";
        std::cout.write(dyn.str(), dyn.pcount()) << "\"\n";
        // the stream is now frozen due to str()
        dyn << " More text" << std::ends;
        std::cout << "The output stream holds \"";
        std::cout.write(dyn.str(), dyn.pcount()) << "\"\n";
        dyn.freeze(false);
    }

Possible output:

    The stream holds "Test: 1.23"
    The stream holds "Test: 1.23 More "

### See also

str | marks the buffer frozen and returns the beginning pointer of the input sequence (public member function of `std::strstreambuf`)

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